Episode 175
Episode 175
"Feet, wrinkle the earth."
Lee Han chanted the spell without waiting.
Since the White Tiger Tower student was tumbling head over heels in front of the Rakshasa Hungry Ghost, he couldn't afford to take too long.
"Space, be perceived."
<Spatial Perception> magic.
Though a simple effect, it was a spell that proved several times more powerful in this dimly lit dungeon.
Especially when considering how scattered rocks and pebbles on the ground could create unexpected variables in an actual fight.
"Hands, cleave the enemy. Eyes, pierce the darkness."
Lee Han swiftly cast a series of Enhancement Magic spells in succession.
Seeing this, Durgyu nodded with a tense expression.
Even though this friend before him was only a first-year, he was a master of magic who could rival upperclassmen.
Durgyu didn't know much about Enhancement Magic, but he at least understood that casting multiple enhancements in rapid succession wasn't typical.
'Incredible, Lee Han!'
Durgyu tightened his grip on his sword.
Once those spells were complete, Lee Han would likely leap down—and Durgyu intended to follow.
"Flash!"
"?!!"
Lee Han swung his staff, unleashing a bolt of lightning.
The charging Rakshasa Hungry Ghost took the hit and shrieked in pain.
-■■!
Among the elements, lightning was the most destructive and violent. Even a simple spell was enough to deal damage to the Rakshasa Hungry Ghost.
Though the creature could withstand Water Orbs fired at high speed thanks to its thick armor, it couldn't block electrocution.
"Flash, flash, flash, flash!"
Lee Han rapidly chanted the spell in short bursts.
Streaks of lightning bloomed from the tip of his staff like flowers, striking the Rakshasa Hungry Ghost repeatedly.
Each time, the creature flinched and halted its movements.
Durgyu, who had been watching in a daze, snapped back to reality and asked,
"Uh... Lee Han. Weren't you going to go down?"
He was a little bewildered. After casting all those Enhancement Magic spells, Lee Han wasn't descending—just continuously firing lightning.
When exactly was he planning to go down?
"Why would I go down?"
"Huh?? But... you cast all those spells...?"
A mage's mana wasn't infinite. Just because they could use it didn't mean they should recklessly expend everything—that would be foolish.
Efficiency was key.
Only the spells necessary for the situation.
If Lee Han had cast Enhancement Magic, it should've been for close combat...
...Right?
"Ah. The Enhancement Magic? I just cast it out of habit. If I can take it down from a distance, there's no reason to go down."
"......"
Durgyu loosened the grip on his sword.
'He's slowly wearing it down.'
Lee Han wasn't in a hurry.
The position favored him, and so did the situation.
A single lightning bolt didn't deal massive damage to the Rakshasa Hungry Ghost, but it was steadily accumulating.
Dripping water eventually pierces stone.
...Of course, this hunting method was only possible for someone like Lee Han, who possessed an immense mana pool.
Any other mage wouldn't even think of endlessly spamming weak spells to take down a monster.
If they tried, no matter how weak the spells, their mana would run dry long before the monster fell.
"Flash, flash, fla—Shield, unfold!"
Lee Han's chant suddenly changed.
In an instant, water materialized in the air, taking the shape of a shield.
And right into it, the sharp rock hurled by the Rakshasa Hungry Ghost lodged itself dead center.
Thunk!
"Hm. Strange. I thought it'd be fine since there's a sword-wielding enemy right in front of it."
At Lee Han's muttering, Durgyu stared at him incredulously.
'If you keep pelting it with lightning like that, of course it's going to get pissed, no matter what's in front of it!'
Even if there was a sword-wielding enemy right before it, getting pummeled like this would naturally make it prioritize Lee Han first.
"It's coming up!"
"Block it!"
The White Tiger Tower students had set up a defensive line on the slope. At the same time, spells from other students rained down from above.
However, unlike regular Hungry Ghosts, the Rakshasa Hungry Ghost's thick armor deflected half-hearted curses and low-circle spells.
Emboldened, the Rakshasa Hungry Ghost hooked its fingers like claws and began scaling the steep slope.
In an instant, it leaped upward, and the faces of the White Tiger Tower students twisted in horror.
They had only seen it getting hit from below—they hadn't expected it to be this fast.
'It's breaking through!'
Durgyu tightened his grip on his sword.
Now that he thought about it, Lee Han's Enhancement Magic hadn't been entirely useless.
At least in a situation like this, they could still react—
"Everyone, duck!"
Whoosh!
A water orb, spinning erratically, struck the Rakshasa Hungry Ghost square in the face as it climbed the cliff.
And not just one—dozens followed in rapid succession!
Even with its thick armor, the Rakshasa Hungry Ghost couldn't withstand such an onslaught while off-balance. It tumbled back down the slope.
Lee Han swung his staff again, unleashing a bolt of lightning.
"Blind it!"
"......"
Then why the hell did you even cast Enhancement Magic?!
The Rakshasa Hungry Ghost, unable to climb back up, finally collapsed.
Without a word, Durgyu descended the slope.
"Are you alright?"
"Th-thanks, Choi."
The White Tiger Tower student staggered to his feet.
Then, with a puzzled expression, he muttered,
"They definitely said there were no Rakshasa Hungry Ghosts around here—where did this one come from?"
"...Who knows? Dungeons are unpredictable. Best to just forget about it."
"R-really?"
When they climbed back up, the students who had been celebrating their successful hunt glared at the White Tiger Tower student.
"We told you not to act recklessly."
"S-sorry, everyone."
The White Tiger Tower student wilted under their stares. Not many could withstand being glared at by everyone present.
Even if he was from a knightly family.
"Alright. Like I said, anyone can make a mistake. No one's hurt, so let's move on."
"Wardanaz..."
The White Tiger Tower student was moved once again.
Not only had he been saved, but they weren't even angry at him.
Maybe Durgyu hadn't been brainwashed—maybe he'd just been genuinely impressed by this side of them.
'Better change the subject fast.'
Before the conversation could drift toward "Where the hell did that Rakshasa Hungry Ghost come from?", Lee Han spoke up.
"But why did you go down there?"
"Because of this helmet."
The White Tiger Tower student pointed at his helmet. A bluish light pulsed from it.
"Ah. So the helmet called to you?"
"No. I just saw it glowing and got curious."
"......"
Lee Han looked at the White Tiger Tower student with the same expression he usually reserved for Gainando.
Noticing that gaze, the White Tiger Tower student averted his eyes.
"I... I was careless."
"No. Anyone can make a mistake. Still, you did well not to touch the helmet."
It was dangerous to recklessly handle an unknown artifact.
Especially one found in an underground dungeon like this.
"Uh... I already touched it."
"......"
"...Sorry."
"It's fine... Anyone can make a mistake..."
Bikelintz, a respected knight of the White Poplar Knights, looked over the young squires before him.
These squires didn't belong to the White Poplar Knights.
They were boys and girls from various knightly families across the empire.
Hard-trained youths who would one day return to their own knightly orders or families, becoming pillars to uphold the empire.
There was only one reason these squires had come to Einrogard with Bikelintz.
"We can't lose to those magic-studying brats."
"Shh. Watch your words. If the others hear, you'll be scolded."
Even within the knightly orders, there were mages, and they were usually respected.
Just imagine how much work a mage stationed in a remote and perilous knight order would have.
But these were still inexperienced squires.
They weren't broad-minded enough to consider such things before speaking.
"Aren't you pissed? Those guys who don't even train in the knight orders got praised so much by Sir Bikelintz!"
"Of course I'm pissed!"
The whole incident started when the respected Sir Bikelintz returned from Einrogard and enthusiastically praised the students there.
"They were truly outstanding. One of the students even defeated me..."
"Is that really true? That's astonishing!"
Those words lit a fire under the squires' pride.
How could they, who endured brutal training, be overshadowed in evaluation by knights who were just learning magic at a magic school?
It was absolutely unacceptable.
"There must have been some mistake."
"Since it's a den of mages, there might have been trickery. Who knows what kind of magic traps they set?"
"Sir Bikelintz is honorable and generous—he might have overlooked the mages' schemes..."
In the end, the squires steeled themselves.
They would personally clash with them and shatter that illusion!
When the squires collectively requested a match, Bikelintz hesitated but eventually obtained permission.
They were granted entry to the magic school under the pretext of the midterm exams.
"Now, everyone."
Bikelintz spoke quietly. Though he still addressed the squires formally, his voice carried an undeniable authority.
"This is Einrogard, the sacred ground of mages. As such, I trust you will not act in a way that dishonors the dignity, honor, and pride befitting a knight."
The squires winced at his words.
It was clear Bikelintz had noticed the emotions they harbored.
"We swear it, Sir Bikelintz."
"We will uphold our pride as knights."
"Thank you, all of you."
The squires filed through the magic school's main gate.
Their eyes caught the sight of gaunt, hollow-cheeked magic school students muttering to themselves as they wandered the grounds.
'This is why mages are just...'
'Eccentric and untrustworthy lot.'
Ahead, they spotted Professor Ingoldel and a group of students gathered for swordsmanship class.
The squires whispered among themselves.
"So, which one is that guy?"
The one who supposedly defeated Bikelintz—that absurd rumor.
Their top priority was finding him.
"The Choi family? I heard a rumor that someone from the Choi family enrolled in the magic school."
"Could be from the Moradi family."
"What about the Dulak family...?"
As they chattered, a boy as handsome as a statue approached. The squires scrutinized him from head to toe.
From his looks to his movements, he clearly wasn't from a knightly family.
'Do I know that face?'
'No idea. Maybe from a high noble family?'
If he wasn't from a knightly family, then he had no business in a swordsmanship spar.
There was no way he could have beaten Bikelintz or earned his praise, so the squires relaxed.
"Are you all... here for the swordsmanship spar?"
"Yeah. That's right."
At that answer, Lee Han's expression brightened.
'As expected, Professor Ingoldel still has a conscience!'
Facing the White Poplar Knights last time had been absolute madness.
This time, he'd brought squires of an appropriate age and skill level.
Of course, squires who trained morning, noon, and night were still formidable, but...
'Everything is relative.'
For Lee Han, who had been bracing himself against the White Poplar Knights, squires were more than satisfactory opponents.
"Welcome to your visit."
"Thanks for the welcome. Which family?"
"Wardanaz."
"Wardanaz! That Wardanaz family?"
"Yeah. Let's have a good match."
Lee Han waved and returned to his seat.
"...?"
Only then did the squires sense something odd and exchanged glances.
Why did that Wardanaz boy say "Let's have a good match"? And why was he sitting among the magic school students from knightly families?